Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-17
ing down the thick bush in their furious
flight as thought it were tamhonki orrasS

ing down the thick bush in their furious
flight as thought it were tambouki grass.
But to come up with them was another
matter and we had struggled on under a
brOiling sun for over two hours before we
found them. They were, with the exception
of one bull. standing together, and | could
see, from their unquiet way, and the man.
ner i'll which they kept lifting their trunks
to test the air, that they were on the lookout
for mischief. The solitary bull stood fifty
yards or so this side of the herd, over which
he was evidently keeping sentry, and about
sixty yards from us. Thinking that he
would see or wind us. and that it would pro-
badly start them all off again if we tried to
get nearer, especially as the ground was
rather open. we all aimed at this bull. and at
my whispered word fired.
All three shots took effect, and down he
went dead. Again the herd started on but
unfortunately for them about a hundred
yards further on was nullah, or driel wa
ter track, with steep banks. place very
much resembling the one the prince imperial
was killed in Zululand. Into this the eIe-
plants plunged, and when we reached the
edge we found them struggling in wild con-
fusion to get up the other bank, and filling
the air with their screams, and trumpeting
as they pushed one another aside in their
selfish panic, just like SO many human be-
ingS. Now was our opportunity, and firing
away as quick as we could load we killed
live of the poor beasts, and no doubt should
have bagged the whole herd had they not
suddenly given up their attempts to climb
the bank and rushed headlong down the
nullah. We were too tired to follow them,
and perhaps also little sick of slaughter,
eight elephants being pretty good bag fol-
one day.
So after we had rested a little and the
KafirS had cut out the hearts of two of the
dead elephants for supper, we started home
ward, very well pleased with ourselves, hav-
ing made up our minds to send the bearers
OH the morrow to chop out the tusks.
Shortly after we had passed the spot
where Good had wounded the patriarchaI
bull we came across herd of Gland, but did
not shoot at them, as we had already plenty
of meat. They trotted past u.s. AS Good
was anxious to get a near view of them,
never having seen an Gland close, he handed
his rifle to Umbopa, and, followed by Khiva,
strolled up to the patch of bush. We sat
down and waited for him, not sorry of the
excuse for little rest.
The sun was just going down in its red
dest glory. and Sir Henry and were adj
miring the lovely scene, when suddenly we
heard an elephant scream, and saw its huge
and charging form with uplifted trunk and
tail silhOuetted against the great red globe
of the sun. Next second we saw something
else, and that was Good and Khiva tearing
back toward us with the wounded bull for
it was he) charging after them. For mo-
ment we did not dare to fre-for fear of
IL I,
thing happened-Good fell victim to his
passion for civilized dress. Had he consent
ed to discard his trousers and CATERS as we
had, and hunt in a flannel shirt and pair of
veldtschoons, it would have been all right,
but as it was his trousers numbered him in
that desperate race, and presently, when he
was about sixty yards from us, his boot,
polished by the dry grass, slipped, and down
he went on his face right in front of the
elephant.
We gave gasp, for we knew he must die,
and ran as hard as we could toward him.
In three seconds it had ended, but not as we
thought Khiva, the Zulu boy, had seen his
master fall, and brave lad that he was, had
turned and flung his assegai straight into the
elephants face. 1t stuck in his trunk.
With a scream of pain the brute seized the
poor Zulu, hurled him to the earth, and plac-
ing his huge foot on his body about the mid
die, twined his trunk round his upper part
and tore him in two.
We rushed up mad with horror, and fired
again and again, and presently the elephant
fell upon the fragments of the Zulu.
AS for Good, he got up and wrung his
hands over the brave man who had given his
life to save him, and, myself, though an old
hand, L felt a lump in my throat AS for
Umbopa, he stood and contemplated the
huge dead elephant and the mangled re-
mains of poor Khiva
"Ah, we'll" he SAID presently, she is dead,
but he died like man.
To be continued.